Locally, it stirred new rift between those who see it as token of the Red Army liberating Europe from the Nazi and those for whom it is a stark reminder of the start of one of the darkest periods in Bulgarian history – the Communist regime.

Cerny was arrested briefly; the tank cleaned, soon painted again by Czech MPs, and after some other twists finally found home in the museum.

In 2013, most Bulgarian politicians remain silent and the prosecution is acting; the monument stands tall in the very heart of Sofia - always painted and cleaned in the dark - symbol of a society still struggling to shake off its past and move forward.

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"...the monument stands tall in the very heart of Sofia - always painted and cleaned in the dark - symbol of a society still struggling to shake off its past and move forward"---Maria (the author) is great, as usual. Dear Maria, DO MOVE FORWARD: do
repllace that ugly monument by....... a new MOSQUE! Good luck,
сучка [~lady].

“Locally, it stirred new rift between those who see it as token of the Red Army liberating Europe from the Nazi and those for whom it is a stark reminder of the start of one of the darkest periods in Bulgarian history “

Ottomans… 484 years

Soviets… 45 years

No contest.. The Ottomans win hands down as the worst occupying force and the most murderous…